Crisis Intervention & Prevention Programs

Alternative House is an emergency shelter for boys and girls, ages 10 to 20, who are runaways, homeless, abused or neglected and need help to resolve problems and successfully return home or to an alternative, safe living situation.  The maximum state regulated stay is 20 days.

Alternative House “Promises” is the open residential, long term care program that offers youth a caring, structured therapeutic environment aimed at a successful transition to their next steps in life, including independence.  

Alternative House programs utilizes the evidenced-based clinical models Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavior Therapy (TF-CBT).   All program staff are trained in DBT and the behavior modification program CPI.

Youth receive transportation to and from school, skills training or job, plus case management and support services to prepare them for their next steps in life.  

Promises accepts boys and girls, ages 14 to 20, from any Indiana county may be referred by the Department of Child Services and Department of Justice. 

219-938-7070

fevans@crisiscenterysb.org

Businesses cooperate with the Crisis Center to help youth to safety. Businesses display a Safe Place sign indicating they are willing to assist youth. Crisis Center staff retrieve youth from the site and transport to safety at Alternative House.

  Safe Place  is a connection to our Emergency Shelter that provides boys & girls, ages 10 - 18 who are in a threatening situation, homeless, pushed out of home, a runaway, with an unsafe or drunk driver immediate shelter, counseling and resources for individual and/or family services.

In addition to the Crisis Center’s network of local Safe Safe Place sites, TXT 4 HELP provides nationwide 24-hour access to counselors and other support services for youth who need them, even when visiting a Safe Place Site isn't an option.

To use TXT 4 HELP, youth text the word “safe” and your current location (city/state/zip) to 4HELP (44357). Within seconds, the youth will receive a message with the closest Safe Place Site and the Local Youth Safe Place Emergency Shelter.

219-938-7070 x 0 

 Safely Home  Prevention Program is a cooperative effort by the Crisis Center, Geminus Community Partners, City of Gary and NWI Police Safety Officers  to help youth who are pushed out, left home or on the streets achieve safety and return home. Law Enforcement transport youth to safety at Alternative House.  

 Our treatment staff provides group, individual and family counseling for the Safe Place and Safely Home residents  at no cost while the youth is being served at Alternative House .

Safely Home is a referral/connection to our emergency shelter,  Alternative House. 

219-938-7070

101 N. Montgomery St.

Gary, IN  46403

Teen Court helps youth become responsible citizens. It is a prevention and early intervention program for young people who have committed an offense for which they have been referred by their school or local police department. 

Youth appear before a court of their peers who determine the appropriate sentence that may include restitution, essays, apologies, community service or other creative sentences. 

Follow-up continues to assure sentence completion. 

Over 20 years of outcome determination indicates that 87% of youth do not re-offend. 

Teen Court is currently held at the Highland Police Department and Portage City Court.

Sandra Porter-Phillips - Program Coordintor (219) 938-7070  x 3025

Fast, free telephone responses to problems is the goal of Crisis Contact Hotline. Staff have been trained to respond with kindness and concern for callers who may be seeking information on resources or who are lonely or upset and just need a friendly voice. 

Crisis Contact Hotline is also linked to the National Suicide Prevention Telephone lines. 

Dial 988

or 

1-800-Suicide

1-800-273-TALK

For Spanish 1-888-628-9454

Marion Collins - Program Director

 mcollins@crisiscenterysb.org

219-938-7070 x 2708